All that came out of my mouth. Of the media passes Nonstop received courtesy of the Food & Wine Fest, I chose Makahiki to see what local culinary stars would bring to a mega-table set for them, the event featuring a farm-to-table theme celebrating Hawaii’s sustainable food resources. I expected to be wowed by them. What I didn’t expect was the babbling idiot I became when I spotted the national and international glitterati.

Food- and drink-wise, the festival is one of my top three faves of the year. Tickets sold out at $200 a pop; more expensive VIP tables were also full. The same happened with nearly all events in the four-day fest. Here’s how Makahiki looked and tasted.

About Mari Taketa

Mari Taketa went through an entire career life cycle — journalism school, AP reporter, business magazine editor — before her rebirth as a food writer. She considers her blog, Deliriyum, part of her state of nirvana.